PrintMay 25, 2011
Obama dumped by big Dem donor (updated)
Haim Saban, a billionaire Israeli-American donor to the Democrats has announced he won't be donating to President Obama's re-election effort. Michelle Caruso-Cabrera of CNBC reports:
The most prominent Israeli-American business leader in the United States, Haim Saban, says President Obama needs to do more to show his support of Israel in light of the President's comments last week suggesting Israel needs to return to its pre-1967 borders to achieve peace with the Palestinians.
In an exclusive interview with CNBC, Saban, one of the biggest individual supporters to the Democratic Party and chairman of Saban Capital Group, said Obama needs to visit Israel as he has done with other countries in the Middle East.
Saban will continue to donate to other Democrats and Democrat causes. But for every entertainment industry billionaire alienated by Obama last week, there are many more Jewish and non-Jewish supporters of Israel alienated by Obama's speech last Thursday.
Democrats realize that Obama blundered big time. Debbie Wassserman-Schultz, chair of the DNC, even tried to use PM Netanyahu to urge Jewish Republicans to put Israel off the table in themcoming elections. Fat chance. It is a genuine policy difference, and the American people overwhelmingly reject Obama's philo-Palestinian approach.
In key swing states Florida, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, Jews are more numerous than in most of the country, and a swing of 10 percent or more of the Jewish vote could make a big difference.
Obama is already trying to walk back his comments on the '67 borders, but the words still hang there in the air, unforgettable to all who care about Israel's survival.
Update:
A very interesting development: The CNBC item on which is based has disappeared. And we have heard from a PR firm that Stephanie Pillersdorf, Mr. Saban's spokesperson, avers:
Mr. Saban remains committed to giving to Democrats (locally and nationally) and will continue to be a significant contributor to the Party.
- If solicited -- and if Mr. Saban's contributions are needed given President Obama's unprecedented ability to raise money on a grassroots level - Mr. Saban would contribute to President Obama's campaign. He has, and always will be, a supportive Democrat.
- Mr. Saban expressedhis appreciation that President Obama clarified his earlier comments regarding Israeli borders; however, he believes that if President Obama visited Israel it would help alleviate concerns in that country as Israelis are looking not just for words, but for actions as well.
- Mr. Saban voiced his concern that President Obama has not yet visited Israel since he became President, as he has with other countries in the region.
- Mr. Saban voiced his concern that Mr. Netanyahu and President Obama are not discussing these very important issues in private, but instead it appears that they are spending time on photo opportunities and in front of cameras, which seems less productive.
